Netflix’s Bridgerton series became an instant sensation when it debuted its first season on the streamer in 2020. The hit Netflix series is an adaptation of the beloved Regency-era romance novels written by Julia Quinn. Like the book series, each season dealt with the story of a particular Bridgerton sibling.
The third season which recently finished airing on the streamer focused on Colin Bridgerton and his romance with Penelope. Additionally, it featured Colin’s sibling Francesca Bridgerton, and the tease of where her character would go in the future. While fans were not happy about a drastic change in her character’s storyline, Quinn welcomed the change brought on by the showrunner.
Julia Quinn Is Happy With The Controversial Gender Swapping Done in Bridgerton Season 3
The hit Netflix series Bridgerton returned with its third season which recently culminated its part 2 this month. Season 3 was primarily based on the book Romancing Mister Bridgerton, from Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton novel series, featuring Colin Bridgerton’s romance with Nicola Coughlan‘s Penelope Featherington. Interestingly, the season also fused elements of another novel in the series When He Was Wicked.
The latter focuses on another Bridgerton sibling Francesca, and her blossoming romance with Michael Stirling after her husband John’s death. While the third season ended with John and Francesca together, it teased a gender-swapped character Michaela Stirling played by Masali Baduza. Fans of the books were not happy about this change, to the extent of them petitioning to reverse the change (via Change.org).
On Instagram, Quinn addressed the changes that showrunner Jess Brownell made to the show. The writer stated that Brownell had approached her to take her seal of approval to make the crucial change. After listening to Brownell and Shondaland’s vision for the series, she is confident that Francesca’s Bridgerton season will be a total tear-jerker, just like the book. Quinn said,
Many Bridgerton fans have expressed their surprise, and for some, disappointment in the twist at the end of Bridgerton Season 3 – that Michael Stirling, with whom Francesca eventually falls in love in When He Was Wicked, would instead be Michaela.
When Jess Brownell first approached me with the idea of turning Michael into Michaela for the show, I needed more information before conferring my agreement. I’m confident now that when Francesca has her Bridgerton season, it will be the most emotional and heart-wrenching story of the show, just like ‘When He Was Wicked’ has always been the true tear-jerker of the ‘Bridgerton’ book series.
Quinn further told fans to have faith in Shondaland’s vision for the series and praised them for putting more diversity in the show. Michaela’s introduction means that the series will have the first queer romance in a future season (possibly season 4). It remains to be seen how they navigate When He Was Wicked’s storyline with this stark change.
Hannah Dodd Had a Surreal Experience As She Debuted as Francesca In Bridgerton Season 3
Another season of Bridgerton means introducing yet another Bridgerton sibling. For season 3, it was Hannah Dodd’s Francesca Bridgerton. Dodd’s delightful performance as the character became one of the main highlights of the season. In an interview with Netflix Tudum, the actress revealed that life imitated art as she prepared to play Francesca.
Dodd stated that she shared the shy and nervous quality of the character. Francesca has been watching and learning all her life by observing people, and the actress also prepared for her role by watching those who came before her. The Bridgerton star said,
Francesca has been preparing for [her debut] … Filming it was absolutely terrifying, because it was quite early on in production. There was a little bit of life imitating art there. She was nervous and I was nervous. She was watching people, and I was watching people to learn. We were kind of going through it together.
The ending of season 3 left Francesca in an interesting place and the next season could feature her as the central character (following the When He Was Wicked storyline). It remains to be seen how the creators plan to use the character in future seasons. Fans can watch all three seasons of Bridgerton on Netflix.
